Does fresh produce lose flavor when pre-chopped and stored?

Question

Does fresh produce lose flavor when pre-chopped and stored? In other words, to maintain flavor, would it be best not to cut fruit like melon, for example, and keep it stored in the fridge? Are strawberries more flavorful whole?

 

Answer

When possible, it is best to store your fruit and vegetables whole and cut just prior to eating. This will extend their life and maintain better flavor quality. However, if having cut, ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables on hand for eating results in increased consumption of these products, that tips the scale towards cutting the products for storage in the fridge.

– Dr. Beth Mitcham

February 2022